Tennis-Nadal to face Monaco in Davis Cup final opener

SEVILLA, Spain Dec 1 (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal will play
Argentina's Juan Monaco in Friday's opening singles rubber as
the world number two returns to the scene of his first
professional triumph to begin Spain's bid for a third Davis Cup
title in four years.

Nadal was just 18 and had yet to win any of his 10 grand
slam titles when he defeated American number one Andy Roddick on
the same indoor clay court at Seville's Olympic Stadium to help
the Spanish claim the Cup in 2004.

Thursday's draw for the final of the 99th edition of the
competition pitted Nadal, now 25, against world number 26
Monaco, while Spanish number two David Ferrer will take on
11th-ranked Juan Martin Del Potro in Friday's second singles in
the best-of-five tie.

"The court is practically the same and it was the first
great emotion I experienced as a professional," Nadal was quoted
as saying in an interview published in Thursday's edition of
sports daily Marca.

"Beating Roddick was special not only because of the victory
but for everything that match meant," the Mallorcan added.

"After all that has happened since it's nice to return to
the place where everything began and I hope the result of the
final is the same."

Argentina, who lost at home to Spain in the 2008 final when
their bid for a first title was wrecked by infighting, face a
stiff task to upset the favourites, who are playing at home and
on their favoured surface.

Neither Nadal or Ferrer have ever lost a Davis Cup singles
rubber on clay, Nadal boasting a 14-0 record on the red dust and
18-1 overall, while Ferrer, the world number five, is 11-0 on
clay and 16-4 on all surfaces. Spain have won their last 20 home
Davis Cup ties and their last 22 on clay.

Saturday's doubles match pits Spanish pair Fernando Verdasco
and Feliciano Lopez against Argentina's David Nalbandian and
Eduardo Schwank, with the two reverse singles to be played on
Sunday.
(Editing by Martyn Herman; To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)